Electric train-wire coupler



Sept. 28 1926.

- c. c. FARMER ELECTRIC TRAI'N WIRE GOUPLER Filed June 14, 192? 3 Sheet'SL-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 28 1926.

C. C. FARMER ELECTRIC TRAIN WIRE COUPLER Filed June 14, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet g sept. 26,1926. 1,661,164

c. c. FARMER ELECTRIC TRAIN WIRE COUPLER F1166 June 14,` 1922 3 `sheets-sheet INVENTOR CLYDE. C. FARMER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, i925.

Laisse rain. i

CLYDE C. FAR-MER, OE PITTSBUAEGI-lf,v PENNSYLVANA, ASSIIGNOR TO 'II-IE WESTING- HOUSE AR BRAKE COMPANY, GF Ol PENNSYLVANIA.

W-JMERDDTG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION nnncfriiic renin-WIRE coUrLnR.

Application led June 14, 1922. Serial No. 568,245.

This invention relates to couplings for connecting electric circuits between cars of a train; and more particularly to the type of electric coupling employing a movable contactcarrier having a plurality of contacts adapted to engage corresponding contagts in the counterpart coupler head when the contact carrier is projected.

ne object 'of my invention is to provide an electric coupler of the above character inv which mechanica-l means operated by the con'iing together of the counterpart couplers operates to project the contact carrier and Vin which the mechanical means exert-s substantially no pressure in the coupled posi-l tion tending` to separate counterpart coupler heads.

The above is of importance where anV electric lcoupler is associated with a car coupler or the tight lock type, since mechanical tappets or push bars operated by the coming together ofcounterpart couplers nd `exerting pressure tending'V to interfere with the full closing movement of the electricv couplers will also tend toy prevent the movement ofthe car coupler locking levers to the fully locked position.

Another object of my invention is to prokride a mechanical means operated by the coming together oi counterpart couplers for projecting the Contact carrier Aand having ans for operatively, disco-nnecting the meiaiiical means from the contact' carrier. Another object of my invention is to provide means for operatively ydisconnecting thecontact carrier operating means from the 'contact carrier in the projected coupled position and means for locking the Contact carrier in its projected position.

another object of my 'inventiongis to provide an electric train line coupler in which machining is reduced to a minimum and in Y which most of the assembling and working connections may becored or cast in the parts.` 'p Y @ther objects and ,advantages will appear in the following moredetailed description or thel invention.

ln the accompanying drawings; Fig. vl is ka horizontal section on the line l-l of Fig.

f 2 ot electric'tlfall ll/ coupling embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 a diagrammatic view, showing the relative positions of the electric contacts of counterpart coupler heads upon initial engagement; Fig. 4 a sec-- tion on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 section o-n the line 6-6 of Fig. l; Fig. a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. l; Fig. a partial plan view of the electric coupler, partly broken away to show the fluid pressure passages; Fig. 9 a detail sectional view of one of the stationary or fixed electric contact elements; Fig. l a detail sectional view of one of the movable electric contact elements; Fig. ll a fragmentary elevational view of they electric coupler head, showing underside of a car coupler head and is more especially vadapted for use in connection with a car coupler such as shown in Patent No. 708,747 of George Westinghouse, dated September 9; 1902, and in which there is a relative lateral movement of the coupler heads in the act of coupling. Y Y

The coupler head may comprise a casing l containing a Vmovable contact carrier 2which is pivotally supported by three links 3, the two iront links 3 being mounted to swing on trunnion pins 4 carried by the casing and being pivotally connected to pins v carried by the contact carrier 2. The central rear link 3 is supported by a pin 6 and is pivotally mounted on a pin? carried by the contact carrier. rThe above described link 4support construction movement of the contact carrier inthe act of projecting and retracting the same.

In order to prevent lateral movementof the VVconta-1t carier 2 -front and rear guide l2 a section of apportion ot thel permits a swinging rs S and Q may be provided which are 111 pivot-allgY mount d zit one end on the side vvall ot' the casing and are pivotally connected et the other end to the contact carrier.

The torce tor projecting the contact carrier is olitained by the movement of a push rod through impact vvith the meeting lace ot a counterpart coupler head in the oct ot' coupling. The push rod 10 is mounted in bearings 11 provided in the casing- 1 end is operatively connected at the rear end b v links 12 to rocker arms 13. lntermcdiate the rocler arms 13 is a notched 1;' having hub extensions forming 'tor the rocker arms 13 and pivoounted on and between the rocker :mns is a pnvsl 15 adapted to engage in the notch of the disk let. ,-1 spring` 63 on the pivot pin 6l serves fiel imly press the patri 15 into en; t' f t C licei-ings a ement with the disk 1T.

rlfhe notched disk 14 is n'ioiinted on a squared sl att 16 and on one end ot the shaft is mounted a de vendingrocker erm 1'( having a hub 18 which vvorlts in a bearing' formed in the casing 1. t the other end of the-shaft a rocher erm 19 is mounted hoving a hub 20 vvoich rests in a bearing; in t i casing'` so that the huhs 18 and Q0 provide rotatable hearing supports o; ther srpiar shaft 1G. The arm 17 carries n pin Q1 which engages in a slot 22 ot' a link the forward end ot the linl: being pivotallv connected to the contact carrier through a pivot pin 24e which extends through the contact cnrrier. rlie other rocker arm 1) is pivotallY connected to one end ot a link Q5, the other end of which is pivotelly connected to the Contact corrier through the same pivot pin lt vvill thus be seen that the roclzer arms 1i' and 19 and the links and 23 torni toggle joints through vvhich the contact carrier 2 is projected when the shaft 16 is rototec.

rlie rotation ot the shaft 16 is also employed to operai;n a door 9.8 which protects the contacts oi? the Contact cerrier trom e3;- posure to the elements when the cer is unconplcd and the door is closed. For this purpose, ya square door operating shaft 27 is provided vfhich is mounted in rototshle neas 9S pted to operaie in bearings provided in the eide Walls of t casing 1. Carried by the shaft 2T is rocher arm 29 having rotatablv mounte therein a roller 30 and 'for actuating th roller 30, a push bar 31 is provided one en ot which engages the roller in the uncouplet position ot the parte enc having the @the end pivotally vconnected to the rocker ern 1T is more clearly shown in #1. -l bor 31 is disposed between guide rollers y -ped that after the shaft 2: r.d through the desired and 4 meinters by the engagement of the bar with the roller 30, said bar will ride over the roller and then lock and prevent retractive movei ent ot the shaft.

The bearing elements QR at opposite ends ot the shalt L are each provided `with an arm 33 having pivotal connection vvith the ihre-:ign en extended pivot pin 34. Pins 35 are secured to the opposite upper side portions ot the door and extend into vertical slots 3G 'termed in the casing l :it the contact face oit the coupler head.l so that the upper end ot the door vvill move vertically when the door is operated ivhile the lovver end ot' the door swings rearunrdlvY with the arms 33.

coil spring is mounted on the shalt 2T end has one end held by a pin 3S on the ihnft. and the other end ot the spring en- The contact carrier 2 comprises u casing in which is mounted moulded blocks 39 and 10 ot' insulrtting materiel containingvertical roivs ot contacts. At one side otY the ceutral row ot contacts, the contacts 1nav be oli the stationery tjvpe and nt the other sido ot the movable compression typeT since it is ry t'or one contact o l tvvo coactinf@-lcontacts to he ot j-ielding` character in order to provide the necessary yielding movement vv'hen companion contacts ot counterpart coupler hcnds engage in the u 't of coupling'. rEhe central ro\v 4of contacts, hovvever, ire of the yielding t'vpc.

shown more clear-lv in Fig. i) ot the druvvings. each .Ctatifinarf,y contact n'iav coinprise o butt contact member 4-1 mounted in the insula n block lO and having' a rear bolt u 42 vritli a, nut du, zuid n jam ior securingthe contact member in insulation. In the block oi' there secured ov o. nut i5 and a f t lll a, terminal member -gl-T havingn u Contact portion 49 adapted to sluhngl;v engage in ai sleeve. It() vfhich contectsrv'ith the juin nut teand is held in position by a Spring rhe conta :t tace the contact member el is preferably made square instead ot round so :is to proride o greater contact area and thus reduce the arcing tent. when contacts are separated o r brought together. ln order to reduce to a minimum the tendenc;v of the electric cin-rentto creep from one Contact to another` insulation 51 is moulded in e recess formed in the conteoL member y11.

shown more clezrrlgv in 10 of the drav` gs ea h movable. contact mov comirise e 'butt Contact member 1? which is provided With o rear sleeve e. lension tio sic.

insula lil - the grooves thedoor ber 4l and a nut 54 screwed into the sleeve 53 is a coil spring 55 for yielding-ly maintaining the contact member 4:1 projected. The contact sleeve 49 ei'igages the nut 54 and the terminal contact portion is similar to that ot the stationary contact, except that the terminal 4:7 may be provided with a rear opening tor receiving a split contact 56 attached to they train wire. The contact blocks 39 and 40 may be secured in place by means of a frame 57 which is secured to the casing 2 by means of bolts 58. The

cable containingthe train wires connected toV the respectiveV contacts ot' the cont-act carrier is held in position by means of a cable clamp comprising clamping segments 59 which are clamped to the cable by means of a cable sleeve 60 which is secured to the rear portion 6l ot' the carriercasing 2 by bolts 62. A coil spring 65 is interposed between a portion of the casing land a projection 66 of the Contact carrier 2 for the purpose Ot retracting the contact carrier when cars are uncoupled.

' In operation, when the'counterpart coupier heads are brought together in the act oit coupling before the faces of the coupler heads meet the end of the push rod l will engage the meeting tace of the counterpart coupler head. The push rod l0 is then pushed rearwardly and through the links 12 rotates the rocker arm 13 and the pawl 15. The pawl l engaging the notched disk 14: rotates the disk 'and the square shaft'16.

il he rocker arm 17 is thus rotated to vproject the door operating bar 3l. The bar 3l pushesthe roller of the rocker arm 29 and thereby rotates the door shaft 27 so that. the connected arms 33 cause the door 26 to be shifted to its open position, as shown in Fig. li.. ll'l'hen the doorhas assumed its lull open position, the angular position of the roller '30 will 'be suchV that the bar 3l will ride over the relier to the position shown in Fig. l2, which will result in locking or holding the door 26 in its fully opened position. The guide pins 35 of the door 26 operating in 36 causes the upper portion of to move vertically downward and hinge for permitting the the door to swing inwardly also serve as a lower portion of and rearwardly.

at the same timethe above door opening' operation is taking place, the pivot pin 2l of Vthe rocker arm 17 is moving in the toggle link slot 22 until at about haltl its travel, the

pin engages a spring stem 67. Furtherv movement of the pin 2l compresses spring 63. i

i During this movement, the link 23 is being raised and when the. pin reaches the end of the slot 22 the link 23 will be pushed forwardand being connected to the contact car- I I rier 2, the carrier is projectedoutwardly to .its contact position,

Vsite sidek of the center line of the yshaft During this movement, the retrieving spring is being compressed and when the Vcenter of the pin 2l passes slightly above with the notched disk 14, as shown in F ig. l2

It will now be seen that in the coupled position, the push rod l0 being tripped out oi engagement with the notched disk 14 is not subjected to any pressure and therefore does not exert any pressure againstA the Jrace of the counterpart coupler head in the coupled position and that movement of the push rod in the coupled position will not lbe transmitted to the contact carrier, so that there y will be no variation in the contact pressure.

The. contact carrier in the coupled position being held practically rigid by the action Vof the release spring 65 pressing the contact carrier rearwardly, so that the link 23 acts as a stop, the contacts will be held in engagement only by the force of the individual spring of each movable contact. i

lhen the above described electric coupler is attached to a. car coupler of the type having a relative lateral movement in the act of coupling, the contact points will initially engage oii center, as illustrated Vin Fig. 3Q As the coupling movement continues, the contactv points move laterally with the car coupler', so that a lateral wip-ing action takes place until in the iinal coup-led position, corresponding contacts are in alinement. By this action the `contact engaging surfaces are maintained bright and smooth.

Surrounding the exposed contact points isa ilexible wea-ther strip `7l which engages a corresponding weather strip of the counterpart contact carrier when in coupled position, so as to protect the contacts against weather and against the entrance of foreign substances. Entrance of dirt and moisture into the coupler casing is prevented by another weather strip 72 which is carried by. the frame 57 and is adapted in the coupled position to engage an inner face 73 of the casing l. Y y

In order to uncouple, means are provided for thro-wing the toggle joint to the opplo and thepin 24 suchas'a piston 74 having a stem 75 adapted to engage the link,` 23. Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the ypiston 74 by means of a 1n nually operated valve 76 located in the cab. VThe-valve 76 a stopt 70, so that further inward may be provided with a. through port T7 and a cavity 78 and normally the valve T6 is positioned so that cavity TS connects piston 7-l through passage 79, passage SO and pipe Si With an exhaust port 82.

lllhen it is desired to uncouple, the valve 73 is turned so that the through port connects a source ot fluid pressure supplyY pipe with pipe 8l and tiuid under pressure being' thus admitted to piston 74, the piston is shifted to cause the stem 75 to force the toggle linlv 23 downwardly past the center line of the toggle joint. As soon as the toggle joint passes the center line. the spring 65 acts to retract the contact carrier to its release or uneoupled position. then tluid is supplied to the piston Pi ot the electric coupler on the operating' ear, iiuid also [lov-:s through passage S0 to a tappet` 84e at the Ytace of the coupler which engages a corresponding' tappet of the counterpart coupler head` so that fluid under pressure floivs through the engaging tappets 841; to the piston Tel of the counterpart coupler head. thus causing' the retracted niofement ot the contact cai`- riers oi" both coupler heads.

As the link 23 passes the center line or' the toggle joint, the spring 68 expands and throivs the pin 2l forward, together with the rocker arm 1T and the door member 3l so that at a. given angular position of the linl; Q8, the end of the member 3l will slip hv the roller 30, permitting the pressure ot the torsional spring' 3T on the door shaft- 2i' to he exerted through the roller 3() to push the member 3l and the rocker arm i7 back to the normal uncoupled position. rhe rotation et the door shaft 27 by the action o'r' the torsional spring 37 operates to move the door i6 to its closed position so as to protect the contact from exposure to the v.' Aathcr and prevent entrance ot dirt and foreign matter into the coupler head when the car is uncouplcd. When the piston T-lhas moved doivn its full stroke and the contact carrier has been retracted as above described, fluid under pressure is supplied from passage 79 past the piston 'Til to pipe S5 which is connected to the car coupler unlocking cylinder not shown) so that the ear couplers are not uneoupled until the contact carriers have been retracted. Rearvvard movement ot the contact carrier ma)vv be limited by the engagement of the rear .suspending link 3 with pin 110,

lllhen the ears are separated. the push rod l0 will be moved outwardljT by the spring' S6, causingthe rotation of the rocker arms and the pa'wl 15 to .the normal uneoupled position as shown in il.

lt is sometimes desirable to provide for local car circuits which are closed when a ear is uncoupled. such a. tail light circuit, a rear door 'locking circuit, or the like, and for this purpose a rear Contact ,mechanism is provided by which local circuits ina;v be opened .vhen the contact carrier projected ant, closed ivhen the carrier retracted. .iccording to my invention there s mounted on the shaft 1G one or more Contact carivingr members eoniprising a metal sleeve ll2 having mounted Y and therein insulation moulded in the insulation are contacts the Contact member heing' positioned on tinI shatt h v means ot a Cotter pin 10G.

Vlhe rear end orf the Contact carrier Q has secured thereto one or more blocks o l mon ded insulation material 9() carrying' spring; contacts Q-), a pair o'l spring' contacts Si) being' adaAI ted to engage one oi the cantv-'is Si' to close a correspondingi ear circ the act o1 coupling. the. shali tates through a certain angle beiore contact carrier t? is moved foiavard. al inbetore explained`-v so that the contact initially rotated out ot engagement ivith the correspondinel spring contacts SS) h v a iviping' n'io'einent which tends to iliaiutain the contacts hrie'ht and smooth at the line ot Contact iis-edwin ea coupled position ot the parts, any arciufi which may of, ur being' at a point not used in carrying' current, due to the rotation ot action occurs when the parts are nieve-:l to '7 i -ieoupled position in vrhieh the contact is retracto-:l and tire contacts ti'i arix moved 'rearwardly to engage the conart ln order to permit the contact carrier io he retracted Ytroni its coupled position while the ears remain coupled up, a manually' operable lever arm 91 is provided. which loeseljv mounted on the bus-,hing4 nieinhet 2() ot the shaft lil. pin 9i projects Ytroni the shaft ,lh and through the lrishiiir 2G and the hub oil the lever Sil is ivsrleiliivih onet slot 99 in which the pin fifi is adainud to operate. lilhen not in use the end o the hand lerer 9i maj.v he supported b v a loose link l0() as shown in Figs. ,lil andr la. u'ih the pin 9S in the elongated portion ot tze slot 9). lillhen it is desired to nianuallv rctract or project the contact carrier. the hand lever 9i is disenfg `fred from the linhV 110() and is moved downwardlj.' and at the saine time is pressed laterall)Y outward. so that in the :dining position, the pin 9S .vill engi' @je in the bayonet portion ot' the slot 95). asshowu in Fie'. S, the further inoveinent ot the lever 91 ivill now eiiect the rotation o'j the shalt i6, so that through trie connecting' parts. the contact carrier niej.' he either retracted or projected.

It it is desired to leave the Contact carrier in its retracted positiem the lever fil inav be disenga ed from the. pin 0@ hv pre :init

de) the lever inrardljy and then the lever niv be turned l and v-:itnoutrotatinf the secured out or' the ivay bv Looking the link 3.00 over the end of the lev r.

ving current in the unllltl In order to provide access to the interior ofthevk coupler head for repairs or the removal and replacementof parts the lower rear portion of the housing 1 is cut away, as shown in Fig. 12 and a cover plate 95 of sheet steel is provided for closing the opening in the casing.

A groove 105 is provided in the under end of the vertical walls of the housing A1 and a horizontal ledge 96 is provided as shown and the cover lplate 95 is applied by placing the lower edge of the plate on the ledge 96 and 'inserting the upper edge in the groove 105. When'in position, the plate 95 is secured to the housing by means yof, cap screws 97. The groove 105 and the ledge 96 serve both as acover holder and as a weather and dust proof joint. i

rhe through pin 24 which connects the contact carrier 2 with the links 28 and 25 at opposite sides of the contact carrier may be made adjustable by mounting the same in adjustable eye bolts 101 secured tothe carrier and the adjustment may be effected by inserting or taking out one or more shim washers 102 interposed between the head of the eye bolt and the supporting lug 103 of the contact carrier,

The stop 70 may be in the form of a stud, so that the position may be adjusted by screwing the stud in, or out as desired.

Since the contact carrier swings on links, the carrier will have a vertical movement as it swings and consequently, when a contact carrieris manually projected or retracted by the operation of the hand lever 91, there will bea vertical wiping action as the contacts engage or disengage from the lcontacts of the counterpart coupler, so that the contact faces are cleaned of dirt by this action when operating manually.V v

`When the train wire cable is clamped in position, the segments 59 are forced into the cable by drawing the sleeve 60 into engagenient with the portion 61 and the meeting faces of the sleeve 60 and the portion 61 being Yin engagement the sleeve is accurately alined with the contact carrier and at the same time the cable is firmly held in position. A dust rexcluding' washer 104 is slidably mounted on the sleeve 60 and extends into a slot 105 in the rear wall of the casing 1.

By employing a square shaft 16 the proper positioning of the members applied to the shaft'is always assured andsaid shaft may be cold rolled stock not requiring any machiningor key ways.

The tappet 84 is slidably mounted in a bushing 107 and the outward movement thereofis limited by a spring ring 108 engaging in a groove in the tappet so that to apply the tappet in position it is only necesysary to place the spring 109 in the tappet cavity of the casing 1 andthen screw the bushing into the casing, as shown in Fig. 2.

j In operating the coupler mechanism so as to retractthe contact carrier and close the shutter or door 26, it might be possible for the contact carrier to stick and fail to move from its contact position to its retracted position, although the door 26 might bel moved and might engage and damage the projected contacts. In order to prevent such an occurrence, the outer frame member 57 of the contact carrier 2 may be provided with horizontally projecting lugs 111 at opposite sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 11.

When the contact carrier is in its projected position and the door 26 in its open posi` tion, the lugs 111 extend over the top edge of the door, so that the door can not move vertically upward toward the closed position until the contact carrier has been retracted, and the lugs 111 are withdrawn out of the path of the door.

From theV foregoing description, it will be seen that very little machine work is required,other than the drilling of holes and that machined guides for the contact carrier are dispensed with by employing the link suspension to provide for the longitudinal movement of the contact carrier,

' 1n order to hold the shaftl in position in the coupler head, a circular groove 113 ,is turned near the end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 7 and after the shaft has been placed in position, a yoke 114 is slipped over the shaft in the groove 113, the yoke being then secured to the casing 1 by means of cap screws 115, as shown in F ig. 1.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric train line coupler compris` ing a movable contact carrier, a push rod operable by the coming together of coun terpart couplers, a rotatable shaft. a pawl operated by said push rod for rotating said shaft, an arm rotatable with said shaft, and a link connecting said arm with the movable contact carrier.

2. An electric train line coupler comprisT ing a movable contact carrier, a push rod operable by the coming together of counterpart couplers,a rotatable shaft,a pawl operable by said push rod, a pawl engaging member carried by said shaft, an arm rotatable with said shaft, and a link connecting said arm with the movable contact carrier.'

8. An elect-ric train line coupler comprising a movable contact carrier, a rotatable shaft, means operated upon rotation of said shaft for projecting'said contact carrier, a member rotatable with said shaft, a pawl engaging said member, a push rod operated by the coming together of counterpart couplers for operating saidv pawl to rotate said shaft and thereby project said contact can rier, and means for engaging and tripping said paivl out ot engagement vv'ith said member upon a preiletermined movement et said push rod.

l-. ln an electric train line coupler, the combination ivi-th a movable contact carrier, ot a mechanical connection actuatedv by the coming together ot counterpart couplers tor projecting said contact carrier, means tor operatively disconnecting the contact 'earrier 'from the mechanical connection in the coupled position, and means 'for retracting the contact carrier ivhile the ycounter'iart couplers are in the coupled position.

5. ln an electric train line coupler, the coiiibination ivith a movable Contact carrier, ot' a mechanical connection actuated by the coming together oi' counterpart couplers for projecting said contact carrier, means for disconnecting the contact carrier from the mechanical connection daring the final coupling movement, and means for retracting the contact carrier While the counterpart couplers remain in the coupled position.

6. ln an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier7 ot' a mechanical connection actuated by the coming together ot counterpart couplers for projecting said contact carrier, means tor disconnecting the contact carrier from the mechanical connection during the final coupling movement, and manually controlled means tor retracting the contact carrier vvhile the counterpart couplers are iii the coupled position. D

7. In an electric train line coupler, the combination Yith a movable contact carrier and a spring tor opposingthe projection of said carrier, of a mechanical connection actuated by the coming together of counterpart couplers for projecting said contact carrier and means for locking saidlcontact carrier against retractive movement trom the coupled position to thereby relieve the mechanical connect-ion from the pressure of said spring.

S. ln an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier and a spring lor opposing the projection of said carrier. ot a mechanical connection actuated by the coming together ot' counterpart couplers for projecting said contact carriera means operative during the tinal coupling movement tor disconnecting the contact carrier from the mechanical conneet-ion7 and means for locking said carrier against retractive movement to thereby relieve tlie mechanical connection from the pressure of said spring.

9. ln an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier and a spring for opposing the projection of said carrier, ot a toggle lever mechanism comprising a link connected to the contact carrier and a rocker arm, a pavvl for actuating said rocher arm, and a push rod operated by the coming together of counterpart couplers for actuating said paivl, the toggle lever mechanism being movable by the push rod to a position in ivhich said spring operates to release the rocher arm from said paivl.

l0. In an electric train line coupler, the combination ivith a movable contact carrier and a spring compressed by the projection ot' the contact carrier, mechanism operatively connected to said contact carrier, means tor actuating said toggle lever mechanism to project said cai'- iier, and a stop engaging said toggle lever mechanism upon a further movement ot said mechanism to prevent retraction of the contact carrier by said spring.

ll. ln an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier and a spring for opposing the projection or' said carrier, ot a toggle lever mechanism connected to the contact carrier, means operated by the coming together ot counterpart couplers ior moving said toggle lever mechanism to its line and line position to project the contact carrier, and a stop tor limiting the 'i'urtlier movement otl the toggle le\cr ii'iechanism by the action ot the spi-ing to a position slightly in advance ot said line and line position.

l2. In an electric train line coupler7 the combination vvith a movable contact carrier and a spring tor opposing the projection ot said carrier, ot a toggle levci iii chanism connected to the contact carrier7 means operated by the coming together or counterpart couplers for moving said toggle lever me flianisin to its line and line position to project the contact carrier, a stop tor limiting the movement of the toggle lever mechanism past its line and line position, and means t'or moving said toggle lever mechanism to the other s' le ot' its line and line position to permit the retraction of the contact carrier by 'the spring.

13. In an electric train line coupler7 :lic combination ivith a movable contact carrier and a spring tor opposing the projection ol' said carrier, ot a toggle lever mechanism connected to the contact carrier, means operated by the coming together oi counicrpart couplers for moving said toggle lever mechanism to its line and line position to project the contact carrier, a stop toi.' limiting the movement ol' the toggle lever mechanism past its line and line position, and manually operated means `l'or elllecting the revezsc movement ot the toggle lever mechanism across the line and line position to thereby permit the contact carrier to be retracted by the action of the spring.

l-t. In an electric train line coupler, the combination With a movable Contact carrier, ot meehani means actuated by the coining together otl counterpart couplers tor ot a toggle lever' llo projecting said carrier and means for operatively disconnecting said mechanical means from the contact carrier during the final movement to the coupled position to permit movement of the contact carrier relative to said mechanical means.

15. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier and a spring for opposing the projection of said carrier to the coupled position, of mechanical means actuated by the coming together of counterpart couplers for projecting said carrier and means for relieving said mechanical means of the reactive pressure of said spring during the final movement to the coupled position to thereby facilitate the full movement of the coupler to its coupled position.

16. 'In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing, of a movable contact carrier, links for vertically suspending said carrier in the casing to swing longitudinally, and other links connected to the carrier for preventing` lateral movement thereof.

17. In an 4electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier, of a shaft operatively connected to said carrier, contacts carried by said shaft, and

contacts carried by the contact carrier andV connected to train line circuits and adapted to engage the shaft contacts when the contact carrier is retracted.'

18. In an electric train line coupler, the

Vcombination with a casing and a movable Contact carrier therein, of a movable door for closing the casing, means pivotally connected to the lower edge of the door for swinging the door downwardly and inwardly and means for guiding the upper edge of the door to move vertically.

19. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier, of a shaft operatively connected to said carrier, a tappet operatively connected to said shaft and operated by the coming together of counterpart coupler heads for actuating `said shaft, a door for protecting the contact carrier, and means associated with said shaft for operating the door.

20. An electric train line coupler comprising a casing, a movable shutter for closing said casing, a rocher arm connected to said shutter, a member connected to said arm, a rotatable shaft, a lever carried by said shaft, and a push bar pivotally connected to said leverand'engaging said member, said mem- 4ber being actuated by said push bar to operate said shutter upon initial rotation of said shaft and said member being turned to a position in which the push bar rides over same. Y

21..In an electric train line coupler, the combination with -a movable contact carrier, a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft for projecting said carrier, of a contact carried by said shaft and a contact carried by the contact carrier for engaging said shaft contact.

22. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier, a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft for projecting said carrier, of a contact member comprising a sleeve mounted on said shaft, insulating material carried by said sleeve, and a Contact mounted in said insulating material.

23. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier, a rotatable shaft, and meansoperated by said shaft for projecting said carrier, of a contact member mounted on said shaft and including a contact and a yielding contact carried by the contact carrier for engagingl said shaft contact.

24. In an electric train line coupler, the

Acombination with a movable contact carrier,

a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft for projecting said carrier, of a contact member mounted on said shaft and including a contact and a yielding contact carried by the contact carrier for engaging said shaft contact upon retraction of the contact carrier.

25. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a movable contact carrier, a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft for projecting said carrier, of a contact carried by said shaft and a contact carried by the contact carrier for engaging the shaft contact, said shaft having a vrotati ve movement preliminary to the projection of the contact carrier whereby a wiping action is roduced between said contacts.

26. n an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing and movable contact carrier mounted in said casing,vof a square rotatable shaft, means operated by said sha-ft for projecting said Contact carrier, a circular groove in a projecting end of the shaft, and a y l; mounted in said groove for holding said shaft in position.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand.

CLYDE C. FARMEIL 

